Mixing and blending apparatus

Abstract

A mixer assembly including a container having a rotatable impeller therein and a motor base having a casing and a drive shaft in the casing adapted to be coupled to and drive the impeller in the container. The drive shaft in the casing extending through an opening in the casing and having a disk fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. The disk being positioned above the opening in the casing and extending radially outwardly over the opening whereby liquid contacting the upper surface of the disk will be spun off as the disk rotates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mixer for liquids comprising: a. a container;   b. impeller means mounted in said container for rotation and comprising rotatable impeller blade means for imparting rotational motion with respect to the axis of said impeller to a mixable material in contact therewith;   c. a motor base having a casing and rotatable drive shaft means adapted to couple with connecting means to rotate said impeller when said container is mounted on said motor base, said drive shaft means extending upwardly from said motor base through an opening in said casing and said drive shaft having a generally circular cross-section and a flattened portion extending on one side thereof; and   d. a disk means fixed to said drive shaft to rotate therewith above said opening, said disk extending radially outwardly over said opening whereby liquid contacting the upper surface of said disk will be spun off as said disk is rotated said disk having an opening extending therethrough of a corresponding cross-section through which said drive shaft extends whereby said disk can be fitted on said drive shaft in fixed liquid sealing engagement to rotate with said drive shaft.   
     
     
       2. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein said drive shaft has a generally circular cross-section and a flattened portion extending on one side thereof and said disk has an opening of a corresponding cross-section whereby said disk can be fitted on said drive shaft in fixed liquid sealing engagement to rotate with said drive shaft. 
     
     
       3. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein said disk is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
       4. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein said disk further comprises a collar portion adapted to fit within said opening. 
     
     
       5. A mixer according to claim 1 wherein said disk extends radially outwardly a distance beyond the radial circumference of said connecting means. 
     
     
       6. A mixer for liquids comprising: a. a container;   b. impeller means mounted in said container for rotation and comprising rotatable impeller balde means for imparting rotational motion with respect to the axis of said impeller to a mixable material in contact therewith;   c. first drive shaft means extending from said container; and comprising a male coupling means adapted to be coupled to a female coupling means;   d. a motor base having a motor driven rotatable second drive shaft means; and   e. coupling means adapted to connect said first drive means and said second drive means having male and female members adapted to couple said first and second drive shafts whereby said motor base will drive and impeller, said male member having a flat blade member extending normal to the bottom of said container and said female member having at least one slot therein adapted to receive said flat blade of said male member said slot being of substantially rectangular cross-section to interfit with said flat blade and having an outwardly angled opening portion thereof to guide said blade into said slot when said male and female members are coupled.   
     
     
       7. A mixer according to claim 6 wherein said female member has two slots crossing at right angles to each other forming in said member an area having four quadrants and wherein the outwardly angled open portion of each slot extends from a point on one wall of said slot outwardly and upwardly to a point adjacent the wall of the next slot whereby the opening at the entrance to each slot extends substantially the width of said quadrant. 
     
     
       8. A mixer according to claim 6 wherein said flat blade member is rectangular in shape and has arcuate corner portions to guide said flat blade member into said slots. 
     
     
       9. A mixer according to claim 6 wherein said flat blade has a rounded bottom. 
     
     
       10. A mixer according to claim 5 wherein said container includes at least one downwardly extending fin means located on the base of said container at a peripheral location thereby said fin means extending downwardly normal to the bottom of said container and said motor base includes upstanding container mounting and positioning means, said mounting and positioning means having slot portion thereon adapted to interfit with said downwardly extending fin means to position said container so that said coupling means will be engaged. 
     
     
       11. A mixer according to claim 10 wherein said slot portions of said mounting and positioning means have outwardly angled opening portions thereof to guide said fin into said slot when said container is placed on said motor base. 
     
     
       12. A mixer according to claim 10 wherein three positioning means and three corresponding fin means are located equidistant on the respective peripheries of said container and said motor base.